AFC Stoneham 2 v 0 Baffins Milton Rovers

Saturday 18th January 2020

Wessex League Premier Division

Stoneham Lane Football Complex, Eastleigh

Admission including Programme: £6.00

Attendance: 75

Yet again I tried to tick off a visit to Totton & Eling today, and yet again I was thwarted, this time due to a waterlogged pitch. Which in some ways seemed rather strange on a beautiful day of wall to wall blue skies and bright sunshine, but heavy rain falling throughout the week on saturated ground had taken its toll. I made my way to the Southampton  area with a visit to the Stoneham Lane Football Complex in as a back up, and it would be no hardship to divert to there instead take in AFC Stoneham's first league game at their brand new venue, enabling me to recomplete the Wessex League Premier Division as soon as practicably possible.

The Stoneham Lane Football Complex is about a 15 minute walk from Swaythling rail station, and a peaceful haven of rural tranquility this location is not, with the M27 motorway passing close behind and above one of the lengths. Operated by the Hampshire FA, to enter the complex, it is necessary to register in advance on the Hampshire FA website, provide plenty of personal data, which generates a personal QR code to be scanned from a mobile device on a reader at the automatic turnstiles. That allows access to the main complex building which includes a large café area, and spectators then proceed outside to the turnstile block to enter the main "stadium pitch" (there are two other plastic pitches adjacent to the main one). The "stadium pitch" is enclosed by see-through cage fencing, with a long metallic all-seater stand straddling the half way line on one side, and hard standing is available around the rest of the pitch. As customary in the Wessex League, team line-ups were written up on a whiteboard, located just inside the entrance. It is a very neat, tidy and smart facility, and there was a friendly, welcoming atmosphere about the place. A 24 page programme was included with admission and was a good read, with an eye catching front cover in colour, a couple of welcome messages and good information about both clubs and the league season.

These are exciting times for AFC Stoneham, moving into their new home ground, and things are proving just as exciting on the pitch this season. Now in their fifth season in senior football since their promotion from the Hampshire League, and promoted as champions of Division One last season, they are second  in the table, following  14 wins and two draws from their opening 20 league games, three points behind leaders Alresford Town but with two games in hand. Baffins Milton Rovers were having a great season but have been hampered badly by postponements, having not played just one league game in December, and one before today in January. They came into this game in twelfth place, following ten wins and seven defeats from their opening 17 league games, but with league games in hand on all teams above them, a top six finish looks very achievable. Today would be the first meeting between the clubs this season.

On a very chilly afternoon, particularly as the sun set, the first half was an even affair, with plenty of hustle without much end product. Although Stoneham came closest to scoring, the visitors also looked dangerous on the attack, particularly down the wings, but the final ball was lacking.

Stoneham burst out of the traps after the interval, and they went on to dominate the rest of the match. Barely a minute after the restart, a poked shot hit the outside of the post, although on 49 minutes, a low ball across the goal by the visitors just evaded a tap in. On 58 minutes, a Stoneham player surged forward clear of the defence, and was eventually brought down by a defender inside the penalty area, and a penalty was duly awarded. Hills converted into the top right from the spot, just evading the keeper's outstretched fingers. Stoneham doubled their lead on 64 minutes with a super goal, Wiseman  curling the ball perfectly from the edge of the penalty area into the top right hand corner, giving the keeper no chance. They hit the woodwork again on 82 minutes, this time a shot hit the inside of the post, with the ball then bundled away from the danger area for a corner. Stoneham saw out the game quite comfortably in the end, to maintain their second place in the table.